Bartimaeus

We moved on yesterday in the morning sunshine.  I was pleased to be able to run electric for the few miles in to Burton-on-Trent and still arrive with the battery levels above 90%. I'd remembered that the moorings we'd frequented when we were here three years ago were limited to 48 hours. In the winter months, that restriction didn't apply but it does now.

I chose a neatly mown section of towpath where we could use the chains to moor to pilings.  I'd seen the forecast for rain the next day, and so I wanted to give us the option of staying longer if we felt like it.

We went in search of lunch in town.  On the way in, neither of us could remember going in to town for lunch much while we'd been hanging about.  We soon remembered why, the walk to the middle of town is along a busy road, and then there isn't a wide choice when you get there.

We found somewhere pleasant this time, and also remembered that we had eaten at a cafe inside the covered market. In the afternoon sunshine we set off for a walk across the Washlands.  This area between the town and the River Trent was partially flooded last time, but was fully accessible now.

Two people sitting on a bench had spotted a kingfisher and tried to point it out to us. I caught a glimpse of it flying out of sight.  We crossed the river hoping for a floral display. The giant swan planter was still there, but it looked as if the main flower display is still to come.

On the way back, I asked in several charity shops if they wanted a donation of the small picnic table we acquired with the boat and have used precisely once. The third one did, so when we got back to the boat I strapped it to my back and cycled back with it.

The sunny weather had fully charged the batteries by the end of the day, but I put the pram cover up at the back in anticipation of rain today. Sure enough the morning started very wet, and there were a few heavy showers in the afternoon.

We've had frequent visits from a swan family.  The three cygnets seem unafraid of people, and the parents are reasonably relaxed too. Mum keeps announcing their arrival by pecking loudly at the side of the boat. We don't really know why, but perhaps she is seeing her reflection and trying to chase this rival away.

I used the rear deck as my work space to get on with a small woodworking task. In recent weeks we've both bashed our heads and shoulders on the sliding hatch at the back. It has developed a tendency to slide closed. We have a warning ribbon hanging down which usually alerts us when it is completely closed, but suddenly partially closed seems to catch us out.

I tried fitting a magnetic catch, but that didn't seem to be strong enough.  This time I was going to try a spring loaded ball catch. It took surprisingly long to get everything in place, but it does seem to be doing the right thing. We'll know for sure next time we try to accelerate with the diesel engine on.

If it is a success, I'll make a bit more effort to make it blend in.  By the time it's been painted white, it will be a lot less noticeable.